Chapter Fifty-One: Heartbreak

When it came to Su Xiaoxiao, Chen Hongxu had to admit that, aside from Xue Xi, she was the woman he interacted with the most. Yet she remained an enigma to him, always occupying that place in his heart that he couldn’t quite understand. He knew Su Xiaoxiao was hurt because of him. He didn’t say anything—not because he didn’t care, but because he understood that sometimes words were simply too pale and powerless to convey what really mattered.

“I owe you, and I will repay you,” he murmured to himself, closing his eyes and feeling the energy within him finally settling.

…

At Chen Hongxu’s home, Xue Xi, her hair disheveled and her face furious, was tugging fiercely at Fan Baobao’s ear, roaring, “Tell me, how did they just leave? Why didn’t you stop them? Why didn’t you wake me up? Why—”

Fan Baobao was speechless, looking utterly wronged. How could he possibly stop those two? And seriously—he’d just been beaten up by her boyfriend, and the moment she woke up she was here to bully him again…

“I don’t care! You have to help me find them, or else I’ll…I’ll…” Xue Xi truly couldn’t think of a suitable punishment for this hapless soul, crushed under the tyranny of Su Xiaoxiao.

“Please, calm down, Miss!” Fan Baobao broke free from Xue Xi’s grip, rubbed his reddened ear, and dutifully offered his other ear for her to pinch, saying, “Actually, it’s not what you think—they didn’t go out for that sort of thing. Chen seemed off this morning, maybe they went out to fight.”

Fan Baobao’s guess was, to be fair, spot-on. But convincing Xue Xi of such a story was another matter—who would believe her boyfriend got up at dawn and went out to brawl with a girl who clearly liked him? A tryst would have been more believable.

“What am I thinking? What am I thinking?” Xue Xi huffed, twisting her hand.

“Nothing, nothing. I just overthought…” Fan Baobao yelped, his face pleading for mercy.

Truth be told, Chen Hongxu’s presence was not the main reason Fan Baobao allowed Xue Xi to bully him. If he was really annoyed, he could just leave—what martial artist has no pride or dignity? But after only a day spent with Xue Xi, Fan Baobao had begun to cherish this ordinary girl from the depths of his heart. It had nothing to do with her looks or background—after all, with his status, he could have any woman he wanted. It was the way Xue Xi, without even realizing it, revealed her attachment to Chen Hongxu: her reluctance, her resolve—it all stirred something inexplicable within Fan Baobao.

Xue Xi huffed, glancing at Fan Baobao’s now red and swollen ears. She seemed to have tired herself out, let go, and barefoot, hopped onto the sofa, sitting with her arms wrapped around herself, tilting her head in thought.

Fan Baobao let out a sigh of relief. Looking at the slightly crestfallen Xue Xi, he suddenly felt a pang of loss. If he’d known her not making a fuss would make her so melancholic, he would have let her keep pinching his ears a little longer.

One stood, the other sat. Neither spoke. In the quiet living room, only the ticking of the wall clock marked the slow passage of time.

Creak—the old house’s door groaned with the sound of rusty hinges. Xue Xi jolted as if struck by lightning, sprang from the sofa, and rushed over.

Chen Hongxu opened the door and was startled by the sight of Xue Xi standing there, her face clouded with worry. He patted his chest, put on a fierce expression, glared at Xue Xi, and looked around the living room. “Where is everyone?”

“They all went back. After all, coming here this time was already breaking the rules,” Fan Baobao said, lowering his head and walking toward Chen Hongxu.

Watching Fan Baobao approach, Chen Hongxu suddenly sensed a subtle hostility from him—faint, but undeniably real.

Chen Hongxu’s eyes narrowed slightly. He pulled Xue Xi behind him, defensively eyeing Fan Baobao, who seemed poised for yet another outburst.

Xue Xi looked puzzled, her gaze darting between the two men.

Noticing the way Chen Hongxu shielded Xue Xi, Fan Baobao gave a self-mocking smile, and the faint aggression in his bearing dissipated.

“Something wrong?” asked Chen Hongxu, who, being a martial artist, was attuned to the ebb and flow of killing intent. He noticed the sudden absence of hostility from Fan Baobao and was puzzled.

Fan Baobao kept that self-deprecating smile, shook his head, brushed past Chen Hongxu, then suddenly raised his fist and smashed it into the wall.

Bang! Like a needle plunging into foam, Fan Baobao’s hand disappeared into the wall. He stared straight ahead and said quietly, “You owe me.”

“Are you crazy?” Chen Hongxu brushed the dust off Xue Xi’s shoulders, knocked loose by the impact, and stared at Fan Baobao in disbelief. “Don’t tell me you’re that petty?”

Fan Baobao’s mouth twitched as he slowly withdrew his hand, stuffed it into his pocket, hunched a bit, and without looking back, he circled around Chen Hongxu and Xue Xi and walked out the door. “I really am sick. I’m heading back to BJ for treatment. By the way, this silly Xue Xi just told me a lot about you. You’d better cherish her.”

Chen Hongxu and Xue Xi exchanged bewildered looks.

“Mom, I’m in love,” Fan Baobao said, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he stood at a crossroad under the traffic lights, making a call.

“Stupid child, you fall in love every day. Haven’t you already ruined enough women?”

“It’s different this time. I want to take care of this woman for the rest of my life.”

“Then bring her home. I’ll check her out for you.”

“Mom, I’m heartbroken…” His hand seemed to lose all strength to hold the phone. As the phone slipped from his grasp, Fan Baobao crouched down and cried like a child. The playboy finally believed in love at first sight, and then lost it…

…

Meanwhile, Chen Hongxu pulled Xue Xi into his room, explaining the morning’s bewildering events.

“We need to buy a bed, and a wardrobe for clothes. The rest doesn’t matter,” Chen Hongxu said, pointing at the empty room.

Xue Xi nodded seriously, her eyes swirling with mischief. “The bed is very important!”

Heaven knew how much she wanted to throw out Chen Hongxu’s single bed. But she also knew that in many cases, women shouldn’t assume to make decisions for men. What you want may not be what he wants.

Seeing Xue Xi’s eyes suddenly light up, Chen Hongxu grew uneasy and ruffled her hair. “What are you plotting now?”

Messing up Xue Xi’s hair was one of Chen Hongxu’s favorite things to do. Xue Xi would always deliberately smooth her hair, just for him to mess it up again. Both enjoyed it immensely, as if it were a private, joyful ritual.

“Nothing!” Xue Xi lowered her head to smooth her hair, grinning. “I called in sick for you today, you know. I’m just wondering how you’ll deal with your beautiful teacher when you go back.”

“I wasn’t expelled?” Chen Hongxu was surprised. Usually, anyone who got hauled off to the police station would be dismissed from the school immediately, especially with the secretary’s son causing trouble. How could he possibly return to class?

“Your friends did a lot for you!” Yesterday, Xue Xi had drunk and chatted with everyone. Knowing she was Chen Hongxu’s girlfriend, no one hid anything from her. She’d learned a lot. But as soon as Chen Hongxu got home, he went off to train, and no one bragged to him about what they’d done. So, she knew more than he did.

“I see,” Chen Hongxu mused. “Then let’s just go buy a bed and whatever else we need this afternoon. Otherwise, I’ll have nowhere to sleep tonight. I’ll register at school tomorrow.”

“Yay!” Xue Xi jumped up and clapped her hands enthusiastically.

“Are you really that happy?”

Xue Xi tossed him a look that said he’d never understand, then ran off to her room to get ready. What woman doesn’t love shopping? It was just that Chen Hongxu didn’t like it, so Xue Xi had always gone along with his wishes…

Author’s note:

I’m just here to ask for some flowers. If you have any, send some my way—thank you!